what happens in the beginning and ending of the story 'the necklace' by guy de maupassant
In the beginning of the story "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant, the protagonist, Mathilde Loisel, is introduced as a beautiful but discontented woman who is dissatisfied with her modest lifestyle. She is married to Monsieur Loisel, a clerk who can only afford a simple and modest life. Mathilde dreams of wealth, luxury, and social status, often daydreaming about a life she believes she deserves.
One day, Mathilde's husband comes home with an invitation to a grand ball hosted by the Ministry of Education. Excited about the opportunity, Mathilde borrows a beautiful diamond necklace from her friend, Madame Forestier, to wear to the ball. However, disaster strikes at the end of the evening when Mathilde realizes she has misplaced the necklace.
Being too afraid to admit the truth of the lost necklace to her friend, Mathilde and her husband decide to buy a replacement. They go into debt, selling their belongings and taking out loans to purchase a new necklace that is an exact replica of the lost one. Their financial situation worsens gradually over time, and they live a miserable and impoverished life for ten years trying to repay the debts.
The story takes a turn near the end when Mathilde encounters Madame Forestier while out for a walk. Mathilde confesses the truth about the lost and replaced necklace, expecting anger and judgment. However, Madame Forestier is surprised and reveals that the original necklace was actually a fake and worth very little. Mathilde's entire ten-year struggle and suffering were for naught.
The story concludes with a twist ending, emphasizing the theme of appearances versus reality and the consequences of materialistic desires. Mathilde's initial longing for wealth and social status leads her down a path of despair and poverty, ultimately destroying her life based on an illusion.
In the beginning of the story "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant, we are introduced to the main character, Mathilde Loisel, who is described as a young and attractive woman from a humbler background. Mathilde is unhappy with her modest lifestyle and dreams of a more luxurious and extravagant life. Her dissatisfaction is particularly evident when her husband, Monsieur Loisel, brings home an invitation to a high-class ball hosted by the Ministry of Education.
Mathilde is unsatisfied with her lack of suitable clothing and jewelry for such an occasion. Monsieur Loisel suggests that she borrow something from her wealthy friend, Madame Forestier. Mathilde borrows an exquisite diamond necklace from Madame Forestier and attends the ball, feeling beautiful and high-spirited. However, after the ball, Mathilde discovers that the necklace has gone missing.
To replace it without Madame Forestier knowing, Mathilde and her husband buy a new necklace, which puts them in a severe financial strain. They eventually repay their debts over the next ten years, living a hard and impoverished life.
In the ending of the story, Mathilde coincidentally meets Madame Forestier again and reveals the truth about losing and replacing the necklace. To Mathilde's surprise, Madame Forestier tells her that the original necklace was actually an imitation and worth only a few francs. The realization that they sacrificed their comfort and happiness for a long time for a worthless necklace shocks Mathilde, and the story ends on a tragic note as she reflects on the consequences of her actions.
In the beginning of the short story "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant, the main character, Mathilde Loisel, is depicted as a discontented woman who is unhappy with her humble lifestyle and dreams of a more luxurious and affluent existence. Mathilde is invited to a high-class event—a ball—and she borrows a beautiful necklace from a friend to wear for the occasion.
However, at the end of the story, Mathilde loses the necklace and, instead of admitting the truth to her friend, she and her husband buy a replacement necklace using their life savings and take on heavy debts to pay for it. They work tirelessly for years to repay their debts, living a life of poverty in the process. Eventually, Mathilde encounters her friend who lent her the necklace and confesses the truth. To their surprise, Mathilde's friend reveals that the original necklace she borrowed was fake and worth nothing. This realization leaves Mathilde devastated, as she had gone through years of hardship for something that held no value.
To understand the complete narrative and intricacies of the story, I would highly recommend reading "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant. It is a captivating and thought-provoking tale that delves into themes of vanity, the consequences of deceit, and the true value of material possessions.